Earth from Space - Image Description

STS046-080-036 Deforestation, State of Rondonia, Brazil August 1992
Despite dense cloud cover along the western edge of this photograph, this synoptic view shows more than half of the total acreage in the State of Rondonia, Brazil. The discernible main northwest-southeast highway begins in the city of Porto Velho (under cloud cover), located along the south side of the Madeira River. Several smaller cities (areas of higher reflectivity) can be seen along the main highway; in fact, the city of Rondonia is located near the center of the photograph. The solid, darker area is tropical rain forest, with several wispy smoke palls blowing toward the north. A fairly accurate trend and rate of deforestation can be calculated by comparing photographs of an area over time. (Refer to STS-51G-034-0060 and STS-046-078-026 for more detailed views and data of this area.)

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.